At the salon, I am mainly in charge of the business side - marketing and promotional activities, finances, etc. But I feel that it is important to do field work once in awhile to avoid getting too distant from the service itself. So the other day, I decided to give our nail tech, Kaori a pedicure.
サロンで経営面を担当している私。でも、たまには現場のお仕事もやらないと！ネイリストの気持ちが遠くなる。その思いも兼ねて先日、香織ちゃんのペディキュアをしました☆
Our salon puts emphasis on customer comfort as any salon should, but we also focus on the comfort of the nail technician in how we lay our our furniture and equipment.
Nail Upでは、お客様の居心地良さももちろん、ネイリストの働きやすさも意識したセットアップにしている。
I won't mention names, but I visited a salon last month famous for its low prices and quick services. There is, of course, always other costs to low cost. The pedicure chair was a regular dining table chair. My butt was definitely numb after the hour and a half pedicure. But more than my numb butt, I couldn't believe the poorly equipped nail tech chair ... a flat, barely-cushioned mat. She sat cross legged on this thing, bent over almost 90degrees painting my toenails.
どことは言わないが、この前サロン調査で行った銀座のある激安ネイルサロン。安い分別のコストが十分ある。ペディキュアは普通のダイニングテーブル用の椅子、施術が終わる頃にはお尻が痺れてる。でも、私の居心地悪さよりもネイリストさんの体制が気の毒で。。。薄い座布団一枚の上に体育座り。。。
Believe it or not, these nail techs sit like this through 12 to 15 clients a day. I couldn't help but to ask "Doesn't your hip hurt sitting like that??" She replied smiling uncomfortably "Yes, a little." I looked over to the manicure section to find that they were giving services standing up. It really was an unfortunate picture.
隣のネイリストは、正座。しかも、この体制で毎日１２人〜１５人の施術をするとか！「腰痛くなりませんか？」と思わず聞いてしまった。「はい、ちょっと痛いです。」と気まずく笑いながら正直に答えてくれた。ハンドジェルの方も立ちながら施術したり、スタッフにとっては最悪なセットアップだった。
Quality was inline with the cost: very low. But the staff members were all very friendly and the atmosphere was energetic and easy going. That made the whole scene even more unfortunate.
品質は、値段に伴ってロークオリティー。でも、スタッフの対応は非常に良くて、みんなフレンドリーで雰囲気も明るい。正直、スタッフをもう少し大切にして欲しいと思った。余計なお世話だろうけど 汗
I received my manicurist license in college and worked as a nail technician for 2 years while going to school. I know how giving pedicures hurts your backup, your hip, your legs. That's why I wanted to make sure that when I opened a salon, it would be comfortable for both clients and the nail technicians. When starting Nail Up, Kaori and I talked for hours trying to figure out the best layout for the place. Raising our recliner 30cm so that she can give pedicures without breaking her back.
私は、アメリカでネイリストの資格を取得して大学に行きながら２年ほどサロンで務めていた。腰が痛くなるのも分かるし、目が疲れるのも分かる。だからこそネイリストにも居心地の良いサロンを作りたいと思って香織ちゃんと相談しながら今のサロンを２人で作りあげた。リクライナーを30cmほど上げているのもその理由。
Even with this awareness, though, it is easy to forget what it feels like when you're on the business side. Sometimes you can't help but to talk with numbers in mind - you gradually lose empathy.
でも、やっぱり経営側ばっかりに立っていると技術者の気持ちを忘れがち。数字だけで語ったり、大変さを分かってあげられなかったり。
To avoid creating this distance with your employees, I think it's important to get yourself involved in the day to day operations at times.
そうならない為にもたまに現場に触れるのは重要だと思った。ラメグラが意外と難しいことも分かったし。
It allows you to not only remember the challenges, but also allows you to relive the joy that comes with the final creation. The reason why nail techs do what they do.
でも、大変さだけじゃなくて、ネイルが綺麗に仕上がった時の嬉しさも思い出せて新鮮。あ、この為にやってるんだと共感できる。
Refreshing your perspective on your own business and services. For me, it only takes a pedicure.
自分の事業に対する観点をリフレッシュさせてくれる素敵な機会だった。これからも香織ちゃんのペディキュアやろう〜
